Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

WEST LAFAYETTE — Brycen Hopkins' dream was to wear black and gold.

He is, just not in the manner he thought.

Growing up 10 minutes from Vanderbilt's campus, Hopkins wanted to play college football for the Commodores.

A coaching staff change forced Hopkins to search elsewhere for his post-high school academic and athletic career and he wound up at Purdue.

Saturday afternoon against the Commodores, Hopkins showed Vanderbilt exactly what it missed out on.

The fifth-year senior, who was featured on the game program, caught a pair of touchdowns and had 41 yards on three catches overall to help the Boilermakers beat Vandy 42-24.

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) reaches out but misses a pass during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) runs the ball as Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey (21) comes in for the block during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) scores a touchdown during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (5) is blocked by the Vanderbilt defense during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) is taken down by Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey (21) during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) falls into the end zone to scorer a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue kicker J.D. Dellinger (85) kicks in an extra point during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (5) celebrates after breaking up a pass from Vanderbilt quarterback Riley Neal (6) during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue offensive lineman Will Bramel (70) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Vanderbilt wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (16) reaches up for a pass during the second half of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) drops the ball as the pass is broken up by Vanderbilt safety Dashaun Jerkins (33) during the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Payne Durham (87) catches a pass in the end zone over Vanderbilt defensive back Randall Haynie (4) during the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

A student kicks in three out of four field goals to win $500 during the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

A student celebrates after kicking in three out of four field goals to win $500 during the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Officials review a play during the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

A cheerleader flies across the field during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Scenes from during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

A spectators celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar (2) looks for an open receiver during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins (89) drops the ball as the pass is broken up by Vanderbilt safety Dashaun Jerkins (33) during the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

The Purdue student section reacts after a play during the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

A spectators reads her book in the stands during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier

"I am sorry to them," said the Nashville native who graduated from Ensworth High. "I am sure there were some Vanderbilt fans (watching) and I used to be a Vanderbilt fan. It feels good beating a hometown team like that."

After last week's touchdown at Nevada, and two more Saturday, Hopkins now has 11 career touchdown catches. Dave Young (27), Dustin Keller (16) and Tim Stratton (15) are the only tight ends with more in a Purdue uniform.

"It's been an emphasis this year to get our tight ends, especially Brycen Hopkins, more involved," Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. "There is only one ball to go around, so it is hard to make sure everybody is getting all their touches.

"Our tight ends really stepped up and made tough catches, controlled the middle of the field, made contested catches and that is a credit to them."

Hopkins' 12-yard reception in the first quarter came with Purdue trailing 7-0. His other two catches were huge, too.

On Purdue's opening drive of the second half, he caught a 9-yard pass on third-and-3. On the next play, Elijah Sindelar launched a 50-yard touchdown to Jared Sparks.

His 20-yard touchdown with 5:06 to go in the third quarter put Purdue up 28-10.

"He is a big target and he does a great job blocking as well," said Rondale Moore, who credited tight ends for helping open up the receivers. "He is a good route runner at tight end so he opens it up for all of us."

Hopkins also had two drops, one in tight coverage where he took a hit, but another that should have been hauled in.

"I am disappointed in my two drops that I had," Hopkins said. "But I am glad that I was able to make it up and they kept coming back to me.

"That means a lot when coach Brohm keeps believing in me after I make a bad drop like that and keeps giving me the ball."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.